Western Scrub Jays Gather Around Dead Jays for Noisy "Funerals"

Researchers from the University of California, Davis have discovered that western scrub jays hold noisy "funerals" when they discover the dead body of one of their own. A jay that finds a dead body will screech loudly to summon others. These very noisy "funerals" can last as long as an hour. Researchers say the scrub jays could be warning others of danger or teaching their young. There could also be a more emotional reason for the funerals, they say.

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Nina Sen

Nina Sen is a frequent contributor to Live Science’s Life’s Little Mysteries series: an exploration and explanation of our world’s phenomena, both natural and man-made. She also writes astronomy photo stories for Live Science's sister site Space.com.